what to do with a 2 year old?

[micegg]

DD is 2.3 and watches way too much TV . I am trying to find alternatives. At the moment we draw, paint, play with play dough and make cakes. Any other ideas out there? Yesterday we went and collected leaves and then traced them with crayons which she loved. I am thinking of taking her to the local stream tomorrow with a jam jar and see whats in it. Really need some inspiration. Especially as I will be on mat leave in few weeks time so will be at home FT for at least a year.

I live in London so if any of you have any suggestions on where to go as well that would be great. DD loves the train so travelling would be OK.

Hmm puddle stomping, kicking through fallen leaves, outdoor chalks are good, fruit and nut picking, picnics, short train ride for fun, painting the fence/walls with water and a paint brush. This is a great age for not spending a fortune on activities so make the most of it!

Do different things with paint like get a tray of paint and roll a ball or toy car in it and then paint with that!

I live up north so hopefully someone local will come along and tell you whats on i the area. Our local library does a story time with story, craft, snack and juice. It's free and much less tedius than mums and tots!

The downstairs part of the Science Museum has a fab part with loads of 'hands on' equipment. Giant water trays etc. Thats great.

Puzzles with lift out bits, books are fab for looking whilst feeding the new baby. You can all sit and do that together.
Has she got a dolly and buggy. They are always a hit with toddlers.

Near easter you can make some EASTER things. Chick and Egg things are easy. Use cotton wool for chick body and stick on an orange card beak. For the egg cut an ovel shape in half (zig zaggy) and stick on either side of the chick.
Use the inside of an egg box for the middle of a daffodill and paint it yellow. Stick onto paper/card and draw/paint or glue petals all around it.

DS loves to play with large cardboard boxes if you have any kicking around - they are brilliant for making all manner of creative things. We have had a boat, a car, a cooker, a den, and a pretend tv (ds drew the pictures)so far.

DS also love it if I fill a small plastic basin with a bit of water and dishwashing soap bubbles and give him a washing up brush and put him to the task of "cleaning" his plastic toys off - this can be a bit wet and messy, but it does clean the toys and keep ds occupied for a really long time!

Thanks. I will give the washing your toys game a go tomorrow. They all need a good wash anyway.

If you're having another baby it might be nice to get dd a baby doll and some accessories. My dd loves playing with her Baby - feeding it, dressing it, changing it, pushing it around, telling it off, putting it to sleep...

You could take him to the library every week and enjoy the books/storytelling there and let him choose a selection to take home.

You could look at Kids' Craft Weekly website for craft ideas - she may be a little young for some of them, but by no means all. You can subscribe for free to have the newsletter emailed to you (it's not actually weekly though), or just view them all on the website.

How about experiments like watching ice cubes melt in a bowl, make goop with cornflower and water.

Sometimes I give my DS dried pasta or rice and some pots and cups, he spends ages filling them up and emptying them.

Good thread! I try and do something out of the house every day with my DS (2.3) or else we both start to climb the walls. I'm in East London and there's loads of groups - music and messy play at the libraries, swimming, a free city farm, about a million parent and toddler groups and toy libraries, soft play activity areas etc. Got a great list from our Surestart place.

BTW, I also got rid of our telly I knew I had to when DS was first born and I found it really difficult to tear myself away from neighbours when he woke up from his nap . We still have a video/DVD player and DS watches first thing in the morning and when I'm getting tea ready, but not apart from that. It really helps as a kick up the arse to find better things to do!

Here are a few of dds favs:

• dolls, dolls, dolls She'll spend ages putting them to bed, getting them lunch, giving them milk, pushing them around etc etc etc
• cooking - either helping you out (large apron and relaxed approach to food hygiene a must) or pretend (all the pots/pans/spoons/roasting tins/cake tins out - this normally turns into saucepan timpany in our house
• dancing - put the music on loud (anything!) and boogie on down
• cleaning - child labour ahoy
• water painting on the patio

Defn add a playgroup to your repertoire if you haven't already - find one you like & stick to it, and library too.

some of our London outings:
Southbank - just go for a meander (dd & ds had a lovely time there today)
Nat Hist Museum - downstairs bit (hard to find!) is good for touchy-feely, but its just a great space to explore

Visit local library

Cook together, real or pretend.
Let her shadow you while you do the usual household chores

sing together, action songs like row the boat and head shoulder knees & toes etc

give her a massage and talk about body parts or tickle her arms for example and talk about body parts teaching her as you go.

Go for walks talking about colours you say as you go

feed the ducks in localpark (where in london are you btw)

puts hits now on the tv and dance together

play monsters / hide and seek

play farms, making all the animal noises together

take crayons and paper to park and do bark rubbing

The libray is great - ours do music for babies, and another session for toddlers with more action songs, and story times as well. The smaller local libraries seem better than the main one as they always have toys or crafts out too.

The Horniman Museum in south London is good - it has a small aquarium there - I think all museums are pretty good places as toddlers seem to enjoy the space.

If you're travelling by ublic transport you can get a leaflet with special offers from stations, so you and partner or friend could go to places like London Zoo or London Aquarium on 2for1 offers.

Pop up tents/tunnels - lots of fun and can pack away easily.

Check out local groups - your local children's information service can send you out a list of all the play groups in your area, it's worth visiting a few as they vary enormously.

A trip to ELC on a wet day - they usually have lots of stuff out to play with, especially on Tuesday mornings I think.

just going on the train is nice too. on friday we went liv st station, wandered around a bit, bought a cake and then came back home for lunch. it is about 15 mins each way, any destination would do, even if to buy an apple three stops away. (i was getting hair dye)

make a den with a blanket over 2 chairs. make a sandwich together. eat lunch in the den.invite dolls and eddies. have a picnic for them all.

teddies not eddies.

You've inspired me to pack a bag for tomorrow full of bread for the ducks, paper and crayons for bark rubbing and a big picnic rug. Hope the weather is as nice tomorrow as it was today.

Also, pet shops are good - we have a massive one in a retail park near us and so they don't notice when you're there for ages!

Someone recently gave DS an audio CD of stories about one of his favorite TV characters. It's a bit painful for me (as he wants to listen to it over and over again) but at least he gets on and plays with toys/does craft activities whilst it's on. In theory it ought to encourage him to use his imagination too. Think it's an improvement on CBeebies and good for wet days when you are stuck inside.